Following consultations
with the Hong Kong
Executive Council, it is intended that the title of the
form of nationality should be "British National
new
(Overseas)".
It has not been easy to devise a title which meets
all the necessary requirements. On the one hand it needs to make clear that we are dealing with a form of British nationality. Nothing less
less would be acceptable
in Hong Kong. On the other hand it is essential that
the title we choose can continue to be used after 1997.
For this to be possible, the title must clearly carry no implication of a continuing constitutional relationship between Britain and Hong Kong after 1997.
I believe that the title we have chosen meets these
needs. It has
has necessarily been the subject of careful
with the Executive Council.
of these
has consultations
The
to
consultations completion
me enabled
announce the title to the House today. There should now be adequate time to explain the choice of the new title to the people of Hong Kong. I f an amendment is to be introduced incorporating the title into the Bill, and I can understand why this might be thought desirable, there would be an opportunity to do so in another place.
As I indicated on 5 December the Schedule
the Schedule includes
a specific provision that the Orders
Orders may include any
that are necessary measures
to ensure that
British
national,
born any child nor
after 1 July 1997 to a
British national, is made stateless as a result of these
arrangements.
no
It is the Government's intention that all the necessary amendments to nationality legislation should be made if possible in one Order in Council, though the
Bill would allow adjustment or addition by further
Orders-in-Council if that became necessary.